Variable load brake



pllil 17, 1945.. G DOWN ET AL A2,374,002'

VARIABLE LOAD BRAKE v Filed Nov. 27, 1943 BY l Patented Apr. 17,19454 tutti VARABLELOADBRAKE .Sidney G. Down. Edgewood, 'and Clyde fC. Farmer, Pittsburgh, `Pa., `assignors to The iWestinghouse A'ir BrakefCompany, 'Wil-merding'fPa., a .corporation of 'Pennsylvania :ApplicationfNofvember 27, 11943, Serial No. 511,906

i7 claims.' (ci. rse-495) This invention relates to railway 1vehicle brake apparatus and more particularly lto variable load brake rigging vof the type in lwhich the leverage may be :automatically varied in accordance with variations in the weight of the. load 4on the vehicle to correspondingly varythe-force'with which the brake is adapted to be applied.

Anobject of the invention :is to -provide .fan-improved variable load brake apparatus ,of the above-mentioned ity-pe.

Another fobject `of the invention :is to provide a variable -load brake rigging vof the fabove-mentioned type which :is so constructed and arranged that it' will be automatically conditioned or changed over for either empty or load braking :by uid under pressure upon initiating `an A.application of the brakes.

A iurther olojectuof the invention gis to provide compact .automatically operati-ve means :for automatically and positively locking the rigging in any of .its conditioned positions when initiating an application ofthe brakes and lfor automatically unlocking the rigging when eecting a release roi thebrakes.

Other objects and .advantages will appear in the following .detailed `description.

In the accompanying drawing the single gure is a fragmentary diagrammatic verticalsectional view taken longitudinally `oi `a railway -vehicle ltruck embodying the invention, parts ofthe truck n and oi 'the'.brake rigging, not lnecessary for aclear understanding of the invention, being omitted.

As shown in the drawing,` the variable load brake 'apparatus is applied to' a railway vehicle truck which may be ofthe usual ,wellknown construction having 'longitudinally spaced wheel andl axle assemblages i, only 'a ,portion of the wheelat one end of the truck being shown, ahollowtruck bolster 2, 'laterally spatejd side 'frames which are rigidly 4carried in the Iusualtrn'anner bythe wheel assemblages and a laterally extending Ispring plank t iwhich is carried by the truck side frames and upon vwhich the `usual truck bolster supporting springs 4 seat.

The apparatus comprises a brake cylinder '5 ofv the 'usual Awell known type having a cylinder portion (A which is secured in lany suitablemanner to 'one side -of the bolster 2. The `cylinder vportion i6 is closed vat #one -en'd by the usual non'- pressure head1 which extends linto the space ber tween the opposite `sides of 'the bolster. v"Contained inthe-cylinder porti'onf :is the lusual piston not shown.) having a hollow sleeve'il. 'The's'leeve 8 projects lbeyond the `outer :end o 'the non-pressure -head 'l 'within the bolster 2.

mounted in the sleeve '8 is the usual push rod 9 which extends vto the exterior of the bolster through a suitable ,opening lil ,provided in one side wall of the bolster.` The outer end of the push rod 9 is operatively connected to Aone .end

of a vertically disposed brake cylinder `lever `|72 by means of a pin i3.

`The vpin I3, in addition to connecting the adjacent ends of 'lever i2 and `push .rod 9 together, also carries la roller |`4 which'is adapted to .travel in a rguide slot I5 provided in a bracket 1 6 carried by the bolster 2. f

The opposite end of the Abrake cylinder lever l2 is operatively'connected 'to one end of a 'longitudinally ,extending 4pull rod l1. 'The opposite end of this pull rod is connected to other brake rigging elements of the -type shown in.l our oopending application Serial No. 464,346, iiled `November 3, 1942. v

Rigidly -atached to the spring 5plank `3 and eX- tending `outwardly from one side thereof is a bracket 20 which carries iajpin `21 upon which is pivotally mounted the inner end of a fulcrurn shifting lever 22. The lever 2'2 'extends inthe direction longitudinally of the truck and across spring plank to and terminates at va point located a short distance 'beyond `'the spring plank. Adjacent its outer end Vthisv `in-lcruin `lever carries a g pinv23 which passes `throughva-slotted opening'2g4 22 arid thereby 4the pin 23"toward 'its uppermost position in `the :slotted opening `Y1L The lever L22 is also yconnected ibymeans of a pin 2'9jto the lower end of a vertically vdisposed upwardly eX- tending serrated or toothed locking bar 30. which lis slidably guided Vvertically in a portion 3| carried by the bracket -l 6.

r-For shifting the vlever :22 and'thereby the pin 23 relative tothe `brake cylinder lever i12 Within the slotted opening 244, so as toprovide a higher leverage ratio for a loaded car than for an Yempty car, and for ymaintaining the ,lever `and thereby the pin in its adjusted position, a combined adjusting and locking mechanism 33 is provided.

Thespace available for installing variablejload brake equipment on mostrailway vehicles iis very limited thereby ren-dering 4'it d'iicult to equip 'vehicles wtih such equipment without considerable change in design. In order to overcome this difiiculty and at the same time guard against damage to certain parts of the apparatus, the combined adjusting and locking mechanism is contained inside the bolster 2. This mechanism comprises a hollow casing which is located within the bolster and whichis secured thereto in any suitable manner, which casing is provided with an extension 36 which extends to the exterior of the bolster through a suitable opening 31 in the bottom wall of the bolster. Contained in this casing is a piston 38 having a stem 39 which projects downwardly therefrom to the exterior of the extension 36. The piston stem 39 is operatively associated with the lfulcrum lever 22 through the medium of a link 40 which is pivotally connected to the stem by means of a pin 4I. The link is provided with slotted opening 42 through which a pin 43 carried by the lever 22 passes.

At one side of the piston 38 there is a chamber 45 which is in constant open communication with a passage and pipe d'6, which pipe in turn is connected to a ilexible hose 48 leading to the usual brake controlling valve device (not shown). The flexible hose 48 is provided for the purpose of accommodating relative vertical movement between said brake controlling valve device, which may be rigidly mounted on the truck frame, and the casing 35, carried by the bolster 2.

At the opposite side of the piston 38 there is a chamber 49 which is connected by way of a passage and pipe 50 to the brake cylinder device 5. Contained in the chamber 49 and interposed between the piston and the lower inner wall of the chamber is a spring 5I, which tends, at all times to urge the piston 38, stem 39 and connected link 40 upwardly to vthe position in which they are shown.

Clamped between the casing 35- and a horizontally extending cap portion 52 is a exible diaphragm 53. At one side of this diaphragm there is a chamber 54 which is normally connected through a passage 55 in a wall of the casing 35 to the chamber 49.

At the opposite side of the diaphragm 53 there is a. chamber 55. operatively associated with this diaphragm and extending through chamber 56 and suitable openings provided in the end portion of the cap portion 52 and adjacent side wall out of locking engagement with the teeth of theV locking bar 35 hereinbefore mentioned.

It is obvious that any variation in the position of the fulcrum pin 23 with relation to the brake cylinder lever I2 will result in variations in the leverage of the brake rigging and thereby a variation in the braking power of the brake rigging.

lf the fulcrum pin 23 is moved longitudinally of the lever in a direction away from the brake cylinder push rod il,l the arm of the brake cylinder lever I2 to which the push rod is connected, will be correspondingly lengthened in eect, so that when the brake cylinder is operated the power transmitted by the opposite end of the lever I2 to the pull rod VI will be correspondingly increased.

If the pin is moved in the direction toward the push rod 5 the elective length of the arm is reduced and as a consequence power transmitted from the lever to the pull rod will be decreased.

Operation Assume the vehicle, embodying the invention, to be empty and the brakes on the vehicle released. Under these conditions the several parts of the apparatus will be in the position in which they are shown in the drawing.

When it is desired to eiect an application of the brakes, fluid under pressure is supplied in the usual well known manner to the flexible hose 48 from whence it flows by way of pipe and passage 46 to piston chamber l5 in the `casing 35 of the mechanism 33. Fluid under pressure thus supplied to chamber 45 and acting on piston 38 in opposition to pressure of spring 5I. causes the piston to move downwardly, from the position in which it is viewed in the drawing.

The piston as it is thus moved causes the piston stem 39 and connected link 45 to move in the same direction, the link 40, by reason of the slotted opening 42, therein, moving relative to the pin 43. This downward movement of the piston stem' and link continues, until brought to a stop by the piston engaging a shoulder 62 formed in the casing 35.

It should here be mentioned that when the vehicle is empty, the truck bolster 2 will be in its normal or uppermost position as shown, so that when fluid under pressure is supplied to chamber 45 in the manner above described, the piston 38 can move its full stroke, i. e., to the position just described, before the pin 43 carried by the lever 22 will engage the upper end ofthe slot 4 3 inthe link40. From this it will be seen, that when the vehicle is empty, operation of the piston 38 will not eiect movement of the lever 22 and the spring 25 will act to maintain the lever 22 and thereby the fulcrum pin 23 in the position in which it is shown.

It should also be mentioned that the spring 5I opposing downward movement of piston 38 has a low pressure value, thus a slight increase in iiuid under pressure in chamber 45 is all that is necessary to cause the piston, piston stem and link to make its full downward stroke.

When the piston 38 has been moved to its lowermost or stopped position, the upper face of the piston will be below the passages 5Fl and 55 leading to the brake cylinder 5 and the chamber 54,`

respectively. With the piston in this position, communication will be established between chambers 45 and 54 also between chamber 45 and the brake cylinder device 5.

With the communication between chambers 45 and 54 thus established, fluid under pressure supplied to chamber 45 flows by way of passage 55 to chamber 54. Fluidunder pressure thus sup* plied to chamber. 54 and acting on diaphragm 53 will cause the diaphragm to deflect in a direction toward the left-hand, as viewed in the drawing, against the opposing pressure of the spring 59. Flexing of the diaphragm in this direction will cause the stem 5a and thereby col lar 57 to move in the same direction` thereby causing the teeth 5G formed on the end of said stem to interlock with the teeth of the locking bar 35, thus locking the bar 3B, and lever 22 and thereby the fulcrum pin 23 in the position at the upper end of the slotted opening 25 in the brake cylinder lever I2 as shown until such time as the pressure in chamber 54 is reduced below the value of spring 59.

With the communication between chamber 45 and the brake cylinder device established, in the manner above described, uid under pressure in chamber 45 iiows by way of passage and pipe 50 tothe brake cylinder device. It should here be mentioned that the spring 59 in the locking mechanism is of such value that it will yield to the power transmitted by the diaphragm 53 before the pressure of fluid in the brake cylinder device is sufficiently high to effect movement of the brake cylinder push rod 9 in its brake applying direction.

After the mechanism has beenlocked as above described, pressure'of fluid in the brake cylinder device will continue t be increased so as to cause the brake cylinder to function to operate the push rod 9 and thereby the brake cylinder lever I2 and the associated pull rody il to effect an application of the brakes in the usual man-r ner.

To initiate a release of the brakes, fluid under pressure is vented from the flexible hose 4S and consequently from the chambers 45 and 54 to the atmosphere. Since the brake cylinder device is in open communication with the chamber 45, fluid under pressure will be vented from the brake cylinder device by way ofv pipe and passage 5!! and chamber 45. When, after the pressure of fluid inthe brake cylinder'device has been reduced sullciently to effect the release of the brakes, the pressure in chamber 54 reduces to a slight degree below the opposing pressure ci the spring 59, the spring acting through the rnedium of the collar 51 will move the ,stem and thereby the teeth 6U out of locking engagement with the toothed locking bar thus unlocking the lever 22 and therebyv the fulcrum pin 23. When the pressure in chamber has been reduced sufficiently. the spring 5| will act to return the piston 38, stern 39 and link 4l! to the position in which they1 are shown in the draw-- ing. It will here be noted that when the piston 33 is returnedto this position, the passages will establish communication between chambers54 and 49 and the passage 50-will establish communication between the brake cylinder dev ce and chamber 49; The chamber 49 is connected to the atmosphere by way of a clearance space 55 between the stem 39 and the casing With the piston thus positioned, the final release yof fluid under pressure iromthe brake cylinder and from chamber 54 to the atmosphere will be bv way of chamber 49 and clearance space 65.

Assuming new that, while the brakes are released, lading isplaced on the body of the vehicle. Under the influence of the additional weight which the lading imposes on the truck ybolster 2 of each truck, the bolster springs 4 will yield and permit the bolster to move downwardly relative to the spring plank 3 and the truck frames.

Since the combined adjusting and locking mechanism 33 is carried by the bolster it will move bodily with the bolster relative to the spi-ing plank. Upon such movement the piston 99. stern 39 and link 40 are caused to move relative to the pin 43 carried by the lever 22. such movement being accommodated by the slot 42 in the link 40. As the movement continues the clearance between the upper end of the' slot 42 and the pin 43 is reduced to a degree proportionate to the load imposed on the body of the vehicle.

Nowwhen an application of the brakes is initiated the piston 38, will function yto cause the stem 3.9 and link 40 to move downwardly to the stopped position in the same rmanner .as hereinbefore described in connection with empty vehicle braking. Since the clearance between the end of the slot 42 and the pin 43 has been reduced due to relative movement between the bolster and the spring plank, downward movement of 'the piston'will causethe upper end of the slot `42 in the link 40 to engage the pin 43 beiore the pist-on completes its full travel.

the piston in this direction causes the lever' 22 to rock about thepivot pin 2| in a counterclockwise direction. As the lever 22 rocks in this direction it carries the fulcrum pin '23 and locking bar 24 with it thereby automatically adjusting the pin 29 relative to the brake cylinder lever 9 to provide for the degree of braking called for by the weight of the lading carried by they vehicle.

lWhen the piston 38 has completed its travel the crum pin 23 in its adjusted position. After they locking mechanism has thus operated to lock the fulcrum pin in its adjusted position, the continued increase in the pressure of fluid in chamber 45 and' consequently in the brake cylinder device causes said brake cylinder devicel to function Ato effect an application of the brakes.

WhenV it is desired tov effect a release of the brakes, fluid under pressurel is vented from the chamber 45 and as a consequence the brakes are released and the fulcrum pin 23 returned to the position in which it is vmaintained by the weight of the load carried by the vehicle in identically the same manner as hereinbefore described in connection with a release of the brakes on an empty vehicle.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to' secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a variable load brake apparatus for a vehi'cle` of the type having a spring plank and a hollow truck bolsterarranged for vertical movement relative to the spring plank in response to variations in the vweight imposed thereon, in combinetion, a brake lever operative for effecting an application of the vehicle brakes, a brakecylinder device carried by and extending through said bolster operative by liuid under pressure supplied thereto for actuating said brake lever, an adjustable i-ulcrum for said brake lever having a position for empty vehicle braking and being movable therefrom to various other positions through a loaded Vehicle Zone for providing loaded vehicle braking, a member pivotally mounted on said spring'plank operative to position said adjustable fulcrum in accordance with the load carried by the vehicle, locking means for locking said member and thereby said fulcrum in any adjusted position, and fluid pressure responsive means ldisposed interiorly of said hollow bolster and operative by an increase in uid under pressure supplied thereto for controlling the operation of said Now, after 'the pin 43 is thus engaged, continued movement of4V member, said locking means and the supply of iiuid under pressure to said brake cylinder.

2. In a variable load brake apparatus for a vehicle of the type having a spring plank and a hollow truck bolster arranged for vertical movement relative to the spring plank in response to variations in the weight imposed thereon, in combination, a brake lever operative for effecting an application of the vehicle brakes, a brake cylinder device carried by and extending through said bolster operative by'fluid under pressure supplied thereto for actuating said brake lever, an adjustable fulcrum for said brake lever having a position for empty vehicle braking and being movable therefrom to various other positions through a loaded vehicle Zone for providing loaded vehicle braking, a member disposed below said bolster and pivotally connected at one end to said spring plank operative to position said adjustable fulcrum in accordance with the load carried by the vehicle, a toothed bar located exteriorly of said bolster and operatively connected to said member, locking means carried interiorly of said bolster comprising a slidably mounted member for movement into locking engagement with said bar,

and fluid pressure responsive means carried interiorly of said bolster and operative by an increase in the pressure of iiuid supplied thereto for controlling the operation of said member, said locking means and the supply of fluid under pressure to said brake cylinder.

3. In a variable load brake apparatus for va vehicle of the type having a spring plank and a hollow truck bolster arranged for vertical movement relative to the spring plank in response to variations in the weight imposed thereon, in combination, a brake lever operativefor eiecting an application of the .vehicle brakes, a brake cylinder device carried by and extending through said bolster` operative by iluid under pressure supplied thereto for actuating said brake lever, an adjustable fulcrum for said brake lever having a position for empty vehicle braking and being movable therefrom to various other positions through a loaded vehicle Zone for providing loaded vehicle braking, a member disposed below said bolster pivotally connected at one end to said spring plank and operative to position said adjustable fulcrum in accordance with the load carried by the vehicle, a toothed bar located exteriorly of said bolster and operatively connected to sai-'d member intermediate said bolster and said brake member, a stem slidably mounted for movement into locking engagement with said bar, a movable abutment disposed interiorly of the bolster and operative by fluid under pressure supplied thereto for actuating said stem, and fiuid pressure responsive means located interiorly of said bolster operative upon an increase in fluid under pressure supplied thereto for rst actuating said member to position said adjustable fulcrum and for simultaneously supplying fluid under pressure to said movable abutment and said brake cylinder device.

4. In a variable load brake apparatus for a vehicle of the type having a spring plank and a hollow truck bolster arranged for vertical movement relative to the spring plank in response to variations in the Weight imposed thereon, in combination, a brake lever operative for eiecting an application of the vehicle brakes, a brake cylinder device carried by and extending through said bolster operative by fluid under pressure supplied thereto for actuating said brake lever, an adjustable fulcrum pin for said brake lever having a position for empty vehicle braking and being movable therefrom to various other positions through a loaded vehicle zone for providing loaded vehicle braking, a member disposed below said bolster and pivotally connected at one end to said spring plank operative to position said adjustable fulcrum pin in accordance with the load carried by the vehicle, a brake lever hanger and guide member carried by said bolster, a spring interposed between and operatively connected to said hanger and said member for normally maintaining said member and thereby said adjustable fulcrum pin in the position for empty vehicle braking, locking means operative to lock said member and thereby said iulcrum pin in its adjusted position, and fluid pressure responsive means carried interiorly of said bolster and responsive to an increase in the pressure of fluid supplied thereto for iirst eecting operation of said member to shift said fulcrum pin and for then effecting operation of saidlocking means to lock said member and thereby said fulcrum pin in the position to which itis shifted and to at the same time supply fluid under pressure to said brake cylinder device.

5. In a variable load brake apparatus for a vehicle of the type having a spring plank and a hollow truck bolster arranged for vertical movement relative to the spring plank in response to variations in the weight imposed thereon, in combination, a brake lever operative for effecting an application of the vehicle brakes, a brake cylinder device carried by and extending through said bolster operative by fluid under pressure supplied thereto for actuating said brake lever, a member disposed below and extending transversely of said bolster, said member carrying adjacent one end thereof an adjustable fulcrum pin for said brake lever and pivotally connected adjacent the opposite end to said spring plank and operative to position the fulcrum pin in accordance with the load carried by the vehicle, locking means comprising uid pressure responsive means disposed interiorly of said bolster and operative by fluid under pressure supplied thereto to lock said member and thereby the adjustable pin in its adjusted position, and movable abutment means carried interiorly of said bolster and operatively connected to said member, said movable abutment means being responsive to an increase in fluid under pressure supplied thereto for first rocking said member to shift the fulcrum pin and for then supplying iiuid under pressure to said locking means to lock said member and thereby said pin in the position to which it is shifted and to at the vsame time supply fluid under pressure to said brake cylinder device 6. In a variable load brake apparatus for a vehicle of the type having a spring plank and a hollow truck bolster arranged for vertical movement relative to the spring plank in response to variations in the weight imposed thereon, in combination, a brake lever operative for effecting an application of the vehicle brakes, a brake cylinder device carried by and extending through said bolster operative by fluid under pressure supplied thereto for actuating said brake lever, a member disposed below and extending transversely of said bolster, said member carrying adjacent one end thereof an adjustable fulcrum pin for said brake lever and pivotally connected adjacent the opposite end to said spring plank and operative to position the fulcrum pin in accordance with the load carried by the vehicle, locking means comprising vfluid pressure responsive means disposed interiorly of said bolster and operative by fluid under pressure supplied thereto to lock said member and thereby the adjustable pin in its adjusted position, and movable abutment means carried interiorly of said bolster and operatively connected to said member, said movable abutment means being responsive to an increase in fluid under 'pressure supplied thereto for rst rocking said member to shift the fulcrum pin and for then supplying uid under pressure simultaneously to both the fluid pressure responsive means and the brake cylinder device, said uid pressure responsive means being responsive to uid under pressure at a value less than that required to eiect operation of said brake cylinder device.

' 7. In a variable load brake apparatus for a vehicle of the type having a spring plank and a hollow truck bolster arranged for vertical movement relative to the spring plank in response to variations in the weight imposed thereon, in combination, a brake lever operative for eiecting an application of the vehicle brakes, a brake cylinder device carried by and extending through said bolster operative by fluid under pressure supplied thereto for actuating said brake lever, an

adjustable fulcrum pin for said brake lever hav-v y said adjustable fulcrum pin in accordance With the load carried by the vehicle, a brake hanger and guide member carried by said bolster, a toothed bar disposed exteriorly of said bolster and slidably guided in said brake hanger and guide member, locking means carried interiorly of said bolster comprising a slidably mounted member operative for movement into locking engagement with said bar, and fluid pressure responsive means carried interiorly of said bolster and operative by an increase in the pressure of uid supplied thereto for controlling the operation of said member and thereby said fulcrum pin, said locking 4means and the supply of fluid under pressure to said brake cylinder device.

` l SIDNEY G. DOWN.

CLYDE C. FARMER. 

